A view of the M25. Photo: Image courtesy of Just Stop Oil.
Action replay: Teresa Belton on disruptive protest
‘I believe greater discernment is needed.’
Last summer, five Just Stop Oil (JSO)protesters were imprisoned for climbing gantries on the M25, attempting to cause gridlock across southern England in protest against the government’s support for fossil fuels. I admired the bravery of the forty-five JSO protesters who climbed gantries on the motorway, who included at least two Quakers. Yet, their action, which was supported by other Friends, made me uncomfortable. I questioned whether ‘peaceful’ was a legitimate description. While they weren’t violent, their actions did cause personal harm. The disruptions led to a man missing his father’s funeral, and several others missing important hospital appointments. Can such actions truly be categorised as ‘peaceful’ like marches or rallies in Trafalgar Square? The term ‘highly disruptive’ would be more accurate.
